ARCADIA >> Many more races like Saturday and racing fans are going to be clamoring for the unbeaten filly Songbird to take on the boys in the Kentucky Derby.

Oh wait, they’re already doing that.

“That’s what they do on TV, with the politicians,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said in the winner’s circle after Songbird, the overwhelming 1-20 favorite, ran her record to 6-0 with an eased-up 3 3/4-length victory in the $101,380 Grade III Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

But all the noise on social media doesn’t bother Hollendorfer, who has a filly that has won her races by a total of 32 1/4 lengths. Saturday’s margin was the shortest of her career.

“If you’re going to run in the big races you gotta expect that people will look for things that might be vulnerable,” he said.

Songbird has yet to show any vulnerabilities as she just cruises along with jockey Mike Smith aboard for the ride. She’s never been headed in any of her races, and it’s not like she’s crawling on the front end. She went 23.20, 46.02 and 1:09.98 en route to a final clocking of 1:43.02 for the 1 1/16 miles of the Santa Ysabel.

“It was incredible,” Smith said. “I got a bit star struck when I looked over at the big screen (in the infield) to see if I needed to do a little bit of work and I was just in awe of how easily she was doing things, again. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off the big screen. I told myself, ‘I better get back to it and stay on.’ She was really on her game.”

Hollendorfer wasn’t sure after Songbird’s victory in the Grade II Las Virgenes on Feb. 6 if he’d train the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro into the Santa Anita Oaks on April 9 or give her a prep race in-between. He opted for the prep, which amounted to a $60,000 (first-place check) workout.

“Today was mostly about keeping her tuned,” said owner Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms, who watched the race from his home in Lexington, Kentucky but promised to be at Santa Anita on Oaks day. “Jerry and I talked and we felt that instead of working her to death, we would pick this race, even though a Grade III wasn’t the best thing.

“It turned out fine, and she got plenty out of this race. They tried to challenge her. They went the first quarter in twenty-three and I thought, ‘This is fantastic.’ Then, when I saw forty-six (half-mile) … it doesn’t seem to bother her. Mike just has a way with her.”

Hollendorfer has had a long line of talented horses during his Hall of Fame career, but he doesn’t like to compare them. It’s no different with Songbird.

“I don’t think it’s fair to her or any of the other great ones that I’ve had,” he said after winning the Santa Ysabel for the first time. “They all have their own styles and individual personalities. I accept her for what she is, and she’s pretty special to me.”

Hollendorfer said there’s no pressure training an undefeated horse.

“There’s more pressure not having one like this,” he said. “I’m very grateful to have this filly. I’m very grateful for Rick Porter and all the people that work with him.”

Like her previous races, Songbird shot to the lead and continued to do her best impersonation of the great Ruffian, who also ran her opposition off their feet. She was never headed in 10 races until the ill-fated match race with Foolish Pleasure in July 1975.

Songbird led by six lengths at the head of the stretch and just cruised home with little urging from Smith. Land Over Sea, who’d finished second behind Songbird four times previously, was second best again, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Mokat.

“There were some people thinking they were going to go after her, but she responded and held them off,” Hollendorfer said.

So now it’s on to the Santa Anita Oaks, and if all goes well, the Kentucky Oaks on May 6. She’s now run 1 1/16 miles three times with zero difficulty. The Kentucky Oaks is 1 1/8 miles, but Hollendorfer is not concerned about the added distance.

“I think she can run as far as horses run,” he said.

Confident words about a filly whose talent leads to plenty of bravado.

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